Mechanical dishwasher



Nov. 10, 19 31, F. A. WALKER I MECHANICAL DISHWASHER Filed July 1926 5Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

ATTO EYS.

Nov. 10, 1931.

F. A. WALKER 1,831,214

MECHANICAL DISHWASHER Filed July 24, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 No v. 10,1931* F. A. WALKER 1,831,214

MECHANICAL DI SHWASHER Filed July 24, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 VEN TOR.

B v W/Tmcss I ATTO NEYS,

F. A. WALKER MECHANICAL DISHWASHER Nov. 10, 1931. 1,831,214

Filed July 2'4, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 MNVQTOR. Q

BY v

H g f )lv r/wsss Patented Nov. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FORREST A. WALKER, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WALKER DISHWASHERCORPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE mncmmcai.DISHWASHER Application filed July 24, 1926. Serial No. 124,640.

This invention relates to a mechanical dish washing machine of the typein which the dishes and other utensils to be washed are supported in anopen-work tray or trays within a suitable vat containing a limitedquantity of water which is forced orimpelled upwardly through open-worktrays or carriers and against the dishes and other utensils with awhirling centrifugal motion in such manner as to impinge against thedishes with a glancing or diagonal impact due to the construction of theimpeller and to the position of the dishes relatively to the directionof motion of the water.

This operation is continued until the dishes are thoroughly cleansedfollowing which the impeller may be stopped temporarily to allow thefoul water to be drawn off and rinsing water introduced and circulatedin the same manner for final cleansing purposes after wlnch the rinsingwater may be drawn ofli' and the dishes and other utensils allowed todry in the carriers either before or after removal from the vat.

In machines of this type the impeller is rotated in a plane close to theconical bottom of the vat and is driven by an upright shaft extendingthrough the apex of said bottom and thus co-axial with the axis of thevat, the shaft being preferably driven by an electric motor mounted uponthe frame of the machine.

The present machine is adapted to be sup ported mainly upon the sidewall of a room or equivalent upright support thereby obviating the useof the usual portable supporting frame in which case it is desirable tohang the motor directly upon the underside of the vat andpreferably atthe rear or wall side of the axis of said vat so as to leave clear Oneof the objects of the invention is to relieve those connections fromexcess load and end-thrust strains and at the same time I to steady theentire machine from undue vibration by providing a supporting leg coaxial with the axis of the vat and impeller shaft so as to better resistthe downward thrust of the impeller shaft and also to par tially supportthe motor and vat.

Another object is to make the leg in sections adjustable one upon theother to assure its contact with the floor when the vat is attached tothe wall and to assure the engagement of the lower end-thrust bearingwith the lower end of the impeller shaft. v

A further object is to mount the leg and motor, upon asupplemental frameor casing and to provide simple means for connecting the casing tothe-underside of the vat so that the motor, gear case and leg may beremoved or replaced as a unit. a

A further object is to provide the casing j with a post extendingthrough the apex of.

the bottom of the vat and above the water forming a water tightconnection between said shaft and impeller.

- Other objects and uses relating to specific washing machine embodyingthe various features of my invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are respectively a top plan and a front elevation of thesame machine.

Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged transverse level for receiving the impellershaft. and 5 vertical sectional views taken respectively on lines 4-4,and 5-5, Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a detail vertical section of the water-level regulator andindicator together with the valve operating means for control ling thedrainage outlet taken on line 6-6, Figure 2.

Figure 7 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken in the plane ofline 77, Figure 6. Figure 8 is an enlarged detail sectional vie taken online 8--8, Figure 2.

Figure 9 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken in the plane ofline 99, Figure 8. As illustrated, the frame of the machine comprises asubstantially rectangular cap or The lower face of the ledge 6 is rab-,

beted throughout its length for receiving the upper end of the vat 2-which is clamped to the underside of the cap section -1 by bolts10-,ithe latter being arranged in spaced relation circumferentiallyaround the marginal edges of the upper end of the vat.

These bolts are preferably hinged to apertured lugs 11- on the undersideof the top section 1 and are movable in slotted lugs -12- on the upperend of the vat to facilitate the assembling of the parts -1 and 2, oneupon the other.

The flange 4- at the rear side of the top section 1-- is provided withvertical slots-130pening from the bottom upwardly for receiving L-shapedbolts or screws -14 which are adapted to be screwed into the side wallas A of a room or toany other suitable upright standard, the inner endsof the screws or bolts -l4. being preferably turned upwardly to enablethe rear flange to be engaged therewith by a downward movement orremoved therefrom by upward displacement.

The cap or top section 1 is therefore supported at its rearside directlyupon the wall A-- while the'vat 2 is supported at its upper end entirelyby the top 1 through the medium of the bolts 10 and.

when placed in operative position projects some distance above the loweredge of the marginal flange 4 so that the joint between the two sectionswill be concealed by said flanges.

The lid or cover 7 is made in the form of a shallow inverted cup whichis circular in plan and of slightly less diameter'than the interiordiameter of the annular flange -3-- so as to rest upon the upper face ofy the ledge --6.

The vertical depth of the cover is slightly less than the correspondingdepth of the flange -3- above the ledge 6 and is provided with asubstantially flat upper face which, when the lid is closed lies in ahorizontal plane slightly below the upper edge of the cap sectlon 1 tobe used when closed for supporting various articles and also to reventthe upward displacement of the was g fluid when circulated in the vat bthe impeller mechanism, presently descri d.

an inverted .conical bottom 17 having an opening in its apex forreceiving a bushing -18--, a post 19 and an impeller shaft 20, the upperend of the bushing l8 is enlarged and engaged with the upper face of theadjacent portion of the bottom -17 to form a water-tight jointtherewith, said bushing being extended downwardly some distance belowthe bottom and threaded externally for receiving a nut 21 which,together with the bushing and suitable packing 22-, constitutes a glandfor'the reception of the post 19.

7 This post extends throu h and some distance above and below thebushing 18 and preferably above the level in the vat as regulated by anoverflow hereinafter described.

A combined gear-case and motor support constituting a supporting frame23 for the power-unit extends across the under side of the bottom of thevat 2- from the axis toward the rear side thereof and has its rear endattached to the underside of the overlying portion of the vat by meansof a strap 24 and bolts 25.

The front end of the casing 23 extends under the apex of the bottom 17and 1s proyided with a gear chamber 26 for recelvmg a gear 27 which issecured to the lower end of the upright, impeller shaft 20-. i

The lower end of the tubular post 19-- extends into an opening 28-- inthe top wall of the gear chamber -26 while the shaft 20 extends throughand some distance below the tubular post 19 and has its lower end seatedon an end-thrust bearmg 29 in the bottom wall of t e gear chamber -26,said bearing 29-'- being seated in the lower end of a socket -30 whichreceives the lower end of the shaft 20 and holds the latter againstlateral movement.

The bottom wall of the gear chamber 26f is made separate from the topwall to permit access to the gear and is secured thereto by screws orbolts -31-,' Figure 4, to firmly hold those arts in fixed relation toeach other when a justed for use.

The front end of the casing 23 is sup ported by a sectional leg '32consisting of an upper tubular section -33- and a lower section 34-, thesection 33 being threaded internally while the section .'34 is threadedexternally for engaging the internal threads and permitting the lengthof the leg to be adjusted as may be required for properly supporting theinner end of the casing 23.

The leg 32- is co-axial with the axis of l the vat --2-, the post 19-and shaft 20-- and serves not only to partially support the vat throughthe medium of the casing 23 and connection 24' and also through themedium of the post 19- but.

also serves to resist the downward thrust of the im ller shaft -20through the endthrust caring 29. due to the lifting action of theimpeller upon the Water.

' The shaft 20-- extends upwardly above theupper end of the tubular post--19f and is threaded at its upper end for receiving V and supporting animpel er -435.

This impeller is provided with a central hub open at the bottom andclosed at the to which latter is provided with a threade socket engagedby the upper threaded end of the shaft -20- for transmitting rotary mo--tion from the shaft to the impeller. v

The impeller is proyided with opposite wings or vanes 36, the lower.edgesof which travel in close proximity to the upper surface of theconical bottom -17-, said blades being provided with bafiles 37--projecting in the direction of rotation to limit the centrifugal throwof the water as the impeller is revolved and also to assist in'deflecting the water upwardly through the trays 9- and 8 and againstany dishes or utensils which may be supported in the trays,

the tray 9 being supported upon the outer marginal edge of the incl nedbottom -17+ as shown more clearly in Figure 4.

Drainage and overflow A pipe -38-' is connected to the interior of oneside of the apex of the conical bottom 17 to extend laterally anddownwardly therefrom and has its outer end connected to one side of anoverflowregulator -39 the latter having its other side connected to adrainpipe 40, Figure 5.

This regulator is provided with an'upright partition 41- dividing itinto opposlte up-- right chambers -42 and 43, said partition having anopening -44- at about the level of the upper end of the conical bottom17 for extendin said chambers 42 and 43 and allbwing the liquid tooverflow from the chamber l2 into the chamber 43- and thence into thedrain pipe 40 for maintaining a pre-determined level of the washingfluid in the bottom of the vat 2-.

The pipes '38 and -l0- are arranged nearly in allnement with each otherwhile the partition -39- is provided with an additional opening 45-- inalinement with the pipes -38- and 40, said additional Water levelz'r'idz'cator A float 52-- is supported on the lower end of a stem --53within the chamber 42- of the level regulator -39, the upper end of saidrod beingextended into a sight tube 54 in the top section 1-- so thatwhen the valve ,46- is closed the water 4 rising in the .vat -2-- willtake the same level in the chamber -42 thereby lifting the float -52 androd 53 and permitting the water-level to be indicated by the relativeposition of'the upper end of the rod 53 in the sight tubeJ-54.

Water supply A spray nozzle 55,-.- is secured in one side of the vat 2some distance above the normal level of the lower tray -9-- forreceiving water from a supply pipe 56 through the medium ofa controllingvalve '57 which together with the nozzle are located below the topsection -1, said valve having a stem -58- projecting through a bushing-59- in the top section 1' and having its upper end provided with ahandle -60- by which the valve may be operated to'regulate the flow ofwater into the. vat for washing or for rinsing purposes.

Power means An electric motor -61 is secured by bolts 62 to theunderside of the rear portion of the casing --Q3- and preferablydirectly below the connecting strap -2 L, said motor having its armatureshaft --63- providcd with a worm 64 meshing with the gear 27- fortransmitting rotary motion to the impeller shaft --20-.

The bottom section of the gear chamber -26 is somewhat tapered while theupper section 33-- of the leg 32- is hollow and adapted-to receive theapex of the bottom section of the gear chamber and to abut against thesame whereby, when the lower section theupper section may be adjusted tofirmly engage'andsupport the lower section of the gear chamber andthereby to partially sup- "-34 is adjusted to contact with the floor,

port the bracket 23 and vat 2- in i addition to its other function ofresisting the downward thrust of the impeller shaft 20-- particularlywhen the impeller is in action for lifting and circulating the watercircumferentially by centrifugal force within the vat -2- and againstany dishes or utensils which may be supported in one or both of thetrays 9 and -8- or in a supplemental tray -9'- which is carried by thetrav -9-.

The current supply wires as 61' lead-' ing from any available source ofcurrent supnlv are carried through a conduit 65, Figure 8. which issupported by brackets 66 within the marginal roll of the cap section 1along one side thereof as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2. saidconduit also serving to receive and support at its front end an electricswitch 67 by which the current to the motor may be controlled.

It will be noted from the foregoing description that the positioning ofthe leg 32 directly under the apex of the bottom of the vat 2 and'co-axial with the impeller shaft 20 leaves a clear foot space aroundthe front and sides of the leg below the vat so as to avoid contact ofthe feet therewith in moving around the machine in addition to its otherfunctions of partially supporting the vat and motive power un t andresisting' the downward thrust of said shaft due to the lifting actionof the impeller upon the water in impellina' the same upwardlv andcentrifugally with a whirling motion.

It will alsobe observed that when the lid or cover 7- is closed itsupper fiat surface to ether with the upper surface of the surroundinaportion of the cap section 1 which is in nearlv the same hor zontalplane affords a convenient work table for various uses and that thearrangement of the various controls such as the water supply control andthe drainage control together with-the water level indicator mainly atthe rear of the lid or cover -7 and at the top of the cap sectionaffords a more convenient means for observin and operating those partsthan has heretofore been practiced while the general construction of themachine is simple, free from exposed moving parts and mav be easily keptin a thoroughly sanitary condition.

Operation The dishes or other utensils to be washed are usually placedin their respective trays,

-9. 9.'' and 8-- before the latter are placed in the vat 2 after whichthese trays or carriers with the dishes therein are placed inoperativeposition within the vat. The valve -57 is then opened by means of itsoperating member 60 to allow the water or other washing fluid to passfrom the supply pipe 56- through thenozzle 55- and into the vat 2 untilit reaches a predetermined level as regulated by the overflow andindicated by the float actuated indicator 54, thevalve -57 being thenclosed.

The switch member 67- is then operated upwardly at different angles inaddition to r the upward lift of the water by therotation of theimpeller thereby causing a thorough upward agitation of the wateragainst the dishes and other utensils in their respective I trays, itbeing understood that the water which is displaced upwardly returns byravity to the impeller to'be again agitate upwardly and centrifugallythereby causing the water to impinge against the dishes and otherutenslls with a glancing impact for thorough cleansing the same.

After the dishes are thoroughly cleansed the motor may be temporarilystopped and the valve 46 opened to drain off the impure water whereuponthe valve 57 may be again opened to allow fresh water to be sprayed overthe dishes and other utensils for rinsing purposes and after the dishesare thoroughly'rinsed the valve 57 is again closed and the cleansed andrinsed dishes and other utensils therein are allowed to remain in thevat until thoroughly dried.

The valve -46 may then be closed and the trays and other utensilstherein may be removed after opening the cover or lid --7,

the machine being then ready for a repetition of the-operationpreviously described.

' It will be noted that the volume of water in the tank for washingpurposes is limited by the overflow 44 to a level just sufiiclent tocover the impeller -36- thereby, not only conserving the water, butalsothe power required for lifting and circulating the water by the impellerand that this lifting action of the impeller produces a downward thrustupon the shaft -20- which, in turn, is resisted by the end-thrustbearing -29' and transmitted directly to the leg 32-thereby relievingthe strain upon the connections between the cap section 1-' and theupright wall A- and also reducing to a minimum the vibration of themachine as a whole incidental to the rotation of the impeller.

.What I claim is:

1. In a mechanical dishwasher, a vat, a

gear-case arranged under the vat, a tubular post projecting from thegear-case through an opening-in the bottom of the vat, an uprightimpeller-shaft extending through the post and having its lower endjournaled in the gear-case, an impeller mounted on the shaft within thevat, and a leg co-axial with the shaft and engaged with the gear-casefor I 5 forsuppogtingm vat ing a. central mprigageatcasmgbeneaththovatinverfimlalinement with said opening,asupporfinglegfor said casing in vertiml said opening and having tsupper end engaged duecflywithsaidcasing,atubularpostsecuredtosaidvandextendingupwardly therefrom '1: saidopening and somedistaneeahovethebottomofthevegarotary itsloweiend journaledinthe

